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While temperature rises in urbanized area there is a growing concern among key decision-makers and urban planners to actively incorporate Urban Heat Island (UHI)-related considerations in their development/design. However, given that the existing models (mainly physics-based) are too complex to use, there is a need for an easy-to-use decision support tool that provides an explicit understanding of the contributions of different urban planning decision-making parameters on UHI. To this end, this research uses publicly available data to develop a data-driven methodology that mines explicit rules about the correlation between socio-economic and urban morphology features and UHI at a street-level. By implementing a tree-regression approach, five distinct categories of potential UHI were identified. These categories represent five levels of UHI, from low to high, where explicit thresholds are identified for each feature. The optimal model based on accuracy and interpretability is a decision tree (DT), with an accuracy of 93 %. With the results of the case study, it is demonstrated that (1) the proposed methodology leads to an easy-to-use tool that can be implemented by urban planners to investigate the impact of their design choices at the street-level, and (2) the results obtained are consistent with the current body of knowledge, which in turn alleviates the drawbacks of traditional methods.
Monica Pena Acosta; Faridaddin Vahdatikhaki; João Santos; Amin Hammad; Andries G. Dorée. How to bring UHI to the urban planning table? A data-driven modeling approach. Sustainable Cities and Society 2021, 71, 102948 .
AMA StyleMonica Pena Acosta, Faridaddin Vahdatikhaki, João Santos, Amin Hammad, Andries G. Dorée. How to bring UHI to the urban planning table? A data-driven modeling approach. Sustainable Cities and Society. 2021; 71 ():102948.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMonica Pena Acosta; Faridaddin Vahdatikhaki; João Santos; Amin Hammad; Andries G. Dorée. 2021. "How to bring UHI to the urban planning table? A data-driven modeling approach." Sustainable Cities and Society 71, no. : 102948.
Given the predominant use of virgin materials and the creation of vast amounts of waste in the construction sector, increasing its resource efficiency could result in a large improvement in overall use of resources. Bridges are a logical target for increasing resource efficiency, not only because of the large amount of materials involved but especially because a considerable number of bridges are demolished because of changing functional demands rather than technical failure. Furthermore, climate change increases future uncertainty and the likelihood of functionally motivated demolitions, which potentially exacerbates the creation of waste. Currently, it is not possible to measure and quantify the resource efficiency of bridge designs. In this study, a framework is presented that combines four indicators based on the principles of the Circular Economy. The four indicators are: (1) Design Input, (2) Resource Availability, (3) Adaptability, and (4) Reusability. Each indicator is further broken down into multiple sub‐indicators. To test the usefulness of the proposed framework, it was applied to two real‐world Dutch case studies. In addition, uncertainty and sensitivity analyses were conducted to determine the robustness of the indicator to changes in the design parameters and the weighting method used. Validation of the framework has shown that this bridge‐specific circularity indicator is useful for determining the level of resource efficiency in terms of material use. This will allow clients to use resource efficiency, or circularity, as a selection criterion in the procurement process. This article met the requirements for a gold—gold JIE data openness badge described at http://jie.click/badges.
Tom B. J. Coenen; João Santos; Sonja A. A. M. Fennis; Johannes I. M. Halman. Development of a bridge circularity assessment framework to promote resource efficiency in infrastructure projects. Journal of Industrial Ecology 2021, 25, 288 -304.
AMA StyleTom B. J. Coenen, João Santos, Sonja A. A. M. Fennis, Johannes I. M. Halman. Development of a bridge circularity assessment framework to promote resource efficiency in infrastructure projects. Journal of Industrial Ecology. 2021; 25 (2):288-304.
Chicago/Turabian StyleTom B. J. Coenen; João Santos; Sonja A. A. M. Fennis; Johannes I. M. Halman. 2021. "Development of a bridge circularity assessment framework to promote resource efficiency in infrastructure projects." Journal of Industrial Ecology 25, no. 2: 288-304.
An optimization-based maintenance scheduling framework is an essential tool to plan the necessary investment to maintain the required performance of a railway line. In the present study, a methodology is proposed to minimize the life cycle maintenance costs and maximize the life cycle quality level of the track-bed considering different levels of reliability. Probabilistic degradation models are developed for predicting the evolution of the railway track condition over time. Afterwards, a Genetic Algorithm based optimization procedure is applied for obtaining a set of optimal solutions taking into account several constrains. The proposed methodology is applied to an Italian railway track-line case study. The results show that it is possible to develop a decision support system to help railway managers to schedule railway track maintenance operations based on the optimal trade-off between maintenance costs and railway track geometry condition for different levels of reliability.
Sara Bressi; João Santos; Massimo Losa. Optimization of maintenance strategies for railway track-bed considering probabilistic degradation models and different reliability levels. Reliability Engineering & System Safety 2020, 207, 107359 .
AMA StyleSara Bressi, João Santos, Massimo Losa. Optimization of maintenance strategies for railway track-bed considering probabilistic degradation models and different reliability levels. Reliability Engineering & System Safety. 2020; 207 ():107359.
Chicago/Turabian StyleSara Bressi; João Santos; Massimo Losa. 2020. "Optimization of maintenance strategies for railway track-bed considering probabilistic degradation models and different reliability levels." Reliability Engineering & System Safety 207, no. : 107359.
Sustainability is becoming a key factor in the decision-making process of infrastructure projects throughout their lifecycles. In particular, the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) in the design phase is becoming a matter of significant importance, for both public and private sectors, given the long-term impacts of design decisions on the environmental performance of infrastructure projects. Traditionally, EIA is performed by a sustainability expert at the end of the design cycle, by which time the modification of design is both costly and time-consuming. In recent years, Building Information Modelling (BIM) is leveraged to better integrate EIA with the design practices. However, there are several limitations with how this integration is approached: (1) EIA is normally performed by software other than the one used for the design. This renders the continuous EIA based on incomplete BIM models difficult; (2) there is a lack of explicit data structure for the integration of EIA and BIM data. This limits the interoperability and flexibility of the EIA tools in terms of accommodating to different EIA databases; (3) in the majority of the cases the integration of EIA and BIM is not bidirectional, which results in the incapacity of the designers to immediately visualize the results of EIA in the design platform and to track the progress of the design in terms of EIA; and (4) the BIM-based EIA has rarely been implemented in an infrastructure project. Therefore, this research aims to develop a continuous BIM-based EIA for infrastructure projects that utilizes an explicit data structure to (1) systematically integrate data from various sources, and (2) enable bidirectional data exchange between BIM and EIA. The framework allows designers to run an automated EIA at any point in the design stage and immediately assess the Environmental Impact Score (EIS) of their design choices. A prototype is developed and tested on a case study to indicate the feasibility of the proposed framework. The framework is assessed in terms of functionality, ease of use, scalability, and contribution to raising sustainability consciousness through a workshop with experts. It is shown that the framework is able to quickly provide designers with accurate information about the potential environmental impact of all objects in infrastructure design projects. The workshop with experts showed that the tool clearly makes it easier to perform EIA compared to the existing, highly fragmented, process. This allows the design team to use this assessment on the same level as other design parameters in the decision-making process.
Maarten Albert van Eldik; Faridaddin Vahdatikhaki; João Miguel Oliveira dos Santos; Maarten Visser; Andre Doree. BIM-based environmental impact assessment for infrastructure design projects. Automation in Construction 2020, 120, 103379 .
AMA StyleMaarten Albert van Eldik, Faridaddin Vahdatikhaki, João Miguel Oliveira dos Santos, Maarten Visser, Andre Doree. BIM-based environmental impact assessment for infrastructure design projects. Automation in Construction. 2020; 120 ():103379.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMaarten Albert van Eldik; Faridaddin Vahdatikhaki; João Miguel Oliveira dos Santos; Maarten Visser; Andre Doree. 2020. "BIM-based environmental impact assessment for infrastructure design projects." Automation in Construction 120, no. : 103379.
The present study investigates – from an environmental perspective – the processes that lead to the conversion of waste plastics into recycled plastic pellets to be used either as an additive (wet method) or as a replacement of natural aggregate (dry method) in the production of asphalt mixes. Data from recycling facilities in Victoria, Australia, were collected and used as the basis for a comparative life cycle assessment (LCA) study. Analyses were conducted by considering several replacement ratios of virgin material by its recycled counterpart in the so-called wet and dry method. A case study considering the production of recycled-plastic asphalt to be applied in the construction of a typical surface layer of a road in Victoria was evaluated. In general, the results show that recycling plastics as a polymer for bitumen modification and as a synthetic aggregate replacement in asphalt mixes has the potential to be environmentally advantageous compared to their virgin counterpart (i.e. virgin polymers and natural quarry aggregates).
J. Santos; A. Pham; P. Stasinopoulos; F. Giustozzi. Recycling waste plastics in roads: A life-cycle assessment study using primary data. Science of The Total Environment 2020, 751, 141842 .
AMA StyleJ. Santos, A. Pham, P. Stasinopoulos, F. Giustozzi. Recycling waste plastics in roads: A life-cycle assessment study using primary data. Science of The Total Environment. 2020; 751 ():141842.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJ. Santos; A. Pham; P. Stasinopoulos; F. Giustozzi. 2020. "Recycling waste plastics in roads: A life-cycle assessment study using primary data." Science of The Total Environment 751, no. : 141842.
This paper presents the results of a comparative life cycle assessment undertaken to compare the potential environmental impacts associated with the use of Recycled Concrete Aggregate (RCA) as a partial replacement of natural aggregates in the production of Warm Mix Asphalt (WMA), with those of a conventional Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA). Laboratory testing results were used as inputs in a pavement design software with the purpose of designing several pavement structures with different percentages of RCA and according to the typical Colombian pavement design conditions. Primary data was collected from several companies in the northern region of Colombia. The SimaPro 8.4.0 software was used for modeling the processes analyzed in the case study and all the life cycle inputs and outputs related to the functional unit were characterized during the life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) phase into potential impacts according to the impact assessment methodology TRACI v.2.1. The LCIA results of the case study showed that the use of WMA with RCA as a replacement of coarse natural aggregates leads to a deterioration of the environmental profile of the pavement structures.
Daniela Vega-Araujo; Gilberto Martinez-Arguelles; João Santos. Comparative life cycle assessment of warm mix asphalt with recycled concrete aggregates: A Colombian case study. Procedia CIRP 2020, 90, 285 -290.
AMA StyleDaniela Vega-Araujo, Gilberto Martinez-Arguelles, João Santos. Comparative life cycle assessment of warm mix asphalt with recycled concrete aggregates: A Colombian case study. Procedia CIRP. 2020; 90 ():285-290.
Chicago/Turabian StyleDaniela Vega-Araujo; Gilberto Martinez-Arguelles; João Santos. 2020. "Comparative life cycle assessment of warm mix asphalt with recycled concrete aggregates: A Colombian case study." Procedia CIRP 90, no. : 285-290.
Daniela L. Vega A.; Joao Santos; Gilberto Martinez-Arguelles. Life cycle assessment of hot mix asphalt with recycled concrete aggregates for road pavements construction. International Journal of Pavement Engineering 2020, 1 -14.
AMA StyleDaniela L. Vega A., Joao Santos, Gilberto Martinez-Arguelles. Life cycle assessment of hot mix asphalt with recycled concrete aggregates for road pavements construction. International Journal of Pavement Engineering. 2020; ():1-14.
Chicago/Turabian StyleDaniela L. Vega A.; Joao Santos; Gilberto Martinez-Arguelles. 2020. "Life cycle assessment of hot mix asphalt with recycled concrete aggregates for road pavements construction." International Journal of Pavement Engineering , no. : 1-14.
Aged road pavements and insufficient maintenance budgets, along with increasing concerns over the environmental issues related to transportation have introduced additional challenges to highway agencies. Multiobjective optimisation techniques can be used to account for those multiple aspects in the design of maintenance and rehabilitation (M&R) strategies. Contrary to the single-objective optimisation problems where a single solution is optimal, the solution of multiobjective optimisation problems is a set of non-dominated solutions, often referred to as Pareto-optimal set. This set of optimal solutions represents the trade-off between the different and often conflicting objectives, and in many cases is comprised by a vast number of elements. This paper presents the development and application of a fuzzy logic expert system for selecting a single solution from the Pareto set obtained from the multiobjective optimisation of sustainable pavement M&R strategies. It provides decision-makers with an easy and intuitive methodology for the selection of the most preferred solution according to sustainability criteria. The proposed system is applied to a case study from France. Posteriorly, different strategies reflecting the decision-maker’s preferences towards economic and environmental objectives are analysed. Conclusions and recommendations for future improvements are derived from this application.
João Santos; Cristina Torres-Machi; Samuel Morillas; Veronique Cerezo. A fuzzy logic expert system for selecting optimal and sustainable life cycle maintenance and rehabilitation strategies for road pavements. International Journal of Pavement Engineering 2020, 1 -13.
AMA StyleJoão Santos, Cristina Torres-Machi, Samuel Morillas, Veronique Cerezo. A fuzzy logic expert system for selecting optimal and sustainable life cycle maintenance and rehabilitation strategies for road pavements. International Journal of Pavement Engineering. 2020; ():1-13.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJoão Santos; Cristina Torres-Machi; Samuel Morillas; Veronique Cerezo. 2020. "A fuzzy logic expert system for selecting optimal and sustainable life cycle maintenance and rehabilitation strategies for road pavements." International Journal of Pavement Engineering , no. : 1-13.
As the infrastructure sector lays claim to large amounts of natural resources and is responsible for a considerable amount of waste, to reduce resource usage and waste, organisations in this sector are considering the implementation of circularity. Despite an abundance of circular methods, principles and strategies provided in literature, the implementation of these approaches into everyday practice is often considered challenging. One of the main problems with implementing circularity is that professionals are not always aware of the full spectrum of circular approaches. Likewise, many CE experts lack the intricate knowledge that is accumulated through managing assets throughout their lifecycle. Following a Design Science Research-based approach, the Circular Economy Interface Matrix Analysis framework (CEIMA) is developed in which a bottom-up asset stakeholder perspective is linked to the existing top-down conceptualizations of circularity using an intermediate categorization. This framework connects infrastructure stakeholders to concrete applications of the Circular Economy by means of identification of possible interfaces. Based on the “9R” waste hierarchy, actions are formulated that provide a practical guide to more circular infrastructure. In this paper, the CEIMA framework is applied to two case studies involving bridges and distribution transformers respectively. The case studies demonstrated that the framework helps to bridge the knowledge gap between the conceptualizations of circularity and their application in the infrastructure domain. The identified interfaces between stakeholders and circular actions reveal key opportunities for stakeholders within the infrastructure sector to start with the implementation of circular actions. Finally, the framework offers a starting point for a broad discussion on the implementation of circularity. Both the resulting insights and the discussions are valuable for focussing stakeholder efforts in the transition towards a circular economy.
Tom B.J. Coenen; Willem Haanstra; A.J.J. Jan Braaksma; João Santos. CEIMA: A framework for identifying critical interfaces between the Circular Economy and stakeholders in the lifecycle of infrastructure assets. Resources, Conservation and Recycling 2020, 155, 104552 .
AMA StyleTom B.J. Coenen, Willem Haanstra, A.J.J. Jan Braaksma, João Santos. CEIMA: A framework for identifying critical interfaces between the Circular Economy and stakeholders in the lifecycle of infrastructure assets. Resources, Conservation and Recycling. 2020; 155 ():104552.
Chicago/Turabian StyleTom B.J. Coenen; Willem Haanstra; A.J.J. Jan Braaksma; João Santos. 2020. "CEIMA: A framework for identifying critical interfaces between the Circular Economy and stakeholders in the lifecycle of infrastructure assets." Resources, Conservation and Recycling 155, no. : 104552.
Pavement design and management practices must be adapted in response to future climate change. While many studies have attempted to identify different methods to adapt pavements to future climate conditions, the potential economic impacts of the adaptations still remain largely unquantified. This study presents the results of a comprehensive life‐cycle cost analysis (LCCA) aimed at quantifying the potential economic impacts of a climate adaptation method, in which an upgraded asphalt binder (Performance Grade PG 76‐22) is used in the construction and maintenance of flexible pavement sections in lieu of the original binder (PG 70‐22) for improved resistance against high temperatures. For each of three major Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) districts with different climates, three case studies consisting of typical interstate, primary, and secondary pavement sections were considered. The LCCA accounted for the costs incurred during the mixture's production, maintenance, and use phases of the pavement life cycle by explicitly considering future climate projections, pavement life‐cycle performance, maintenance effects, and work zone user delays. The study concludes that pavements using the upgraded binder not only perform better over time but are also economically advantageous compared to those with the original binder under the conditions of the anticipated future climate conditions (2020–2039).
Yaning Qiao; Joao Santos; Anne M.K. Stoner; Gerardo Flinstch. Climate change impacts on asphalt road pavement construction and maintenance: An economic life cycle assessment of adaptation measures in the State of Virginia, United States. Journal of Industrial Ecology 2019, 24, 342 -355.
AMA StyleYaning Qiao, Joao Santos, Anne M.K. Stoner, Gerardo Flinstch. Climate change impacts on asphalt road pavement construction and maintenance: An economic life cycle assessment of adaptation measures in the State of Virginia, United States. Journal of Industrial Ecology. 2019; 24 (2):342-355.
Chicago/Turabian StyleYaning Qiao; Joao Santos; Anne M.K. Stoner; Gerardo Flinstch. 2019. "Climate change impacts on asphalt road pavement construction and maintenance: An economic life cycle assessment of adaptation measures in the State of Virginia, United States." Journal of Industrial Ecology 24, no. 2: 342-355.
Recently, the reduction of the environmental burdens related to highway infrastructures has been in the spotlight. Within this context, the use of recycled materials in bituminous mixtures for road pavement construction and maintenance has the potential to mitigate the excessive use of non-renewable resources. Nevertheless, the material consumption is only one of the aspects that affects the sustainability of an infrastructure. Other relevant aspects related to environmental issues should be considered. The objective of this work is to evaluate the potential environmental impacts of asphalt mixtures containing crumb rubber (CR) (vulcanised or devulcanised) and reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) assuming different Degree of binder Activation (DoA) of the aged binder by means of a life cycle assessment (LCA). The results show that the small amount of CR used for bituminous mixtures application does not justify all the additional consumption of resources and emissions associated with its treatment. These results are explained by the higher environmental impacts stemming from the treatment of the rubber and the higher amount of bitumen employed in the mixture. In turn, for mixtures containing RAP the analysis revealed an improvement in the score of all the environmental indicators considered.
Sara Bressi; Joao Santos; Marko Orešković; Massimo Losa. A comparative environmental impact analysis of asphalt mixtures containing crumb rubber and reclaimed asphalt pavement using life cycle assessment. International Journal of Pavement Engineering 2019, 22, 524 -538.
AMA StyleSara Bressi, Joao Santos, Marko Orešković, Massimo Losa. A comparative environmental impact analysis of asphalt mixtures containing crumb rubber and reclaimed asphalt pavement using life cycle assessment. International Journal of Pavement Engineering. 2019; 22 (4):524-538.
Chicago/Turabian StyleSara Bressi; Joao Santos; Marko Orešković; Massimo Losa. 2019. "A comparative environmental impact analysis of asphalt mixtures containing crumb rubber and reclaimed asphalt pavement using life cycle assessment." International Journal of Pavement Engineering 22, no. 4: 524-538.
Cold mix recycling technologies based on asphalt emulsion have been acknowledged for allowing to reduce the environmental burdens associated with road pavement maintenance and rehabilitation. In fact, mixing and placement are conducted at lower temperatures leading to energy savings, a reduction of asphalt aging, fume and odor releasing, and a general decrease of airborne emissions. However, there are still several concerns related to the high variability of reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP), the lack of standard mix-design procedures and the fair/low mechanical performance often achieved especially due to poor moisture resistance. On other side, the addition of crumb rubber into hot mix asphalts is considered an environmentally-friendly and cost-effective practice in several countries. Producing bituminous cold mixes containing crumb rubber to develop a “greener” paving material with a performance level comparable to that of conventional materials, represents a great challenge to materials engineering. This paper presents the results of a laboratory investigation concerning the mix-design characteristics of cold 100%-recycled asphalt emulsion mixes, using crumb rubber to improve cold recycling engineered properties. Mechanical and volumetric properties were assessed through fatigue tests, dynamic modulus and indirect tensile strength on dry and water-conditioned specimens. Finally, a life cycle assessment of alternative maintenance and rehabilitation treatments was conducted to quantify both engineered and environmental advantages in relation to the conventional materials.
A. Castro; G. Martínez; Luis Fuentes; A. Bonicelli; J. Preciado; J. Santos. Environmental and mechanical benefits of cold recycled bituminous mixes with crumb rubber. Pavement and Asset Management 2019, 477 -484.
AMA StyleA. Castro, G. Martínez, Luis Fuentes, A. Bonicelli, J. Preciado, J. Santos. Environmental and mechanical benefits of cold recycled bituminous mixes with crumb rubber. Pavement and Asset Management. 2019; ():477-484.
Chicago/Turabian StyleA. Castro; G. Martínez; Luis Fuentes; A. Bonicelli; J. Preciado; J. Santos. 2019. "Environmental and mechanical benefits of cold recycled bituminous mixes with crumb rubber." Pavement and Asset Management , no. : 477-484.
Bituminous sub-ballast in railway track-bed can mitigate the variation of the moisture content in the subgrade and reduce vertical stiffness variations of the track leading to a more durable infrastructure. Nevertheless, durability is only one of the aspects that affects the sustainability of an infrastructure. Other relevant aspects are related to the environmental and economic issues. This research work joins the worldwide effort towards a paradigm shift in civil engineering devoted to assess the sustainability of infrastructures at the design stage. With this in mind, in this study different alternative bituminous sub-ballast mixtures containing recycled materials, namely crumb rubber (CR) and reclaimed asphalt pavements (RAP) were compared by means of the results of a Life-Cycle Assessment (LCA). In comparison with a traditional bituminous sub-ballast the Crumb Rubber Modified (CRM) mixtures showed higher impacts due to the treatment of the rubber as well as the higher amount of bitumen employed in the mixture. In turn, when RAP is used, the LCA results report an improvement of all the indicators considered. The reduction of the impacts is even higher when full blending between the aged and the virgin binder is assumed because it allows reducing the amount of virgin bitumen employed. The results are intended to be used by engineering experts and practitioners to make more assertive judgments on the advantages and disadvantages associated with the use of emerging and commonly called sustainable strategies and practices for railway track-bed.
Sara Bressi; Joao Santos; Marinella Giunta; Lavinia Pistonesi; Davide Lo Presti. A comparative life-cycle assessment of asphalt mixtures for railway sub-ballast containing alternative materials. Resources, Conservation and Recycling 2018, 137, 76 -88.
AMA StyleSara Bressi, Joao Santos, Marinella Giunta, Lavinia Pistonesi, Davide Lo Presti. A comparative life-cycle assessment of asphalt mixtures for railway sub-ballast containing alternative materials. Resources, Conservation and Recycling. 2018; 137 ():76-88.
Chicago/Turabian StyleSara Bressi; Joao Santos; Marinella Giunta; Lavinia Pistonesi; Davide Lo Presti. 2018. "A comparative life-cycle assessment of asphalt mixtures for railway sub-ballast containing alternative materials." Resources, Conservation and Recycling 137, no. : 76-88.
Road pavement community members are increasingly becoming aware of the need to incorporating the principles of sustainable development into the sector. Policies are also going in this direction and as a consequence in the recent years researchers and practitioners are coming up with new materials, technologies and practices designed to reduce the negative impacts of their activities in the surroundings. Within this framework the road pavements sector is witnessing a paradigm shift towards the development of pavement technologies incorporating high-content of recycled materials, as well as best practices to decrease the overall carbon footprint. These are all promising solutions that to the most can sound as sustainable practices. However the whole road pavement community is still investigating methodologies and tools to define what actually sustainable means and thereby performing a sustainable decision-making. It is within this context that the need of a sustainability-based decision support system (DSS) that could help road pavement engineers at the design stage was identified and is here presented. The Sustainable Pavements & Railways DSS (SUP&R DSS) relies on a multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) method to rank the sustainability of alternatives. It applies life cycle-based approaches to quantify the values of a set of indicators purposely and methodologically selected to capture the cause-effect link between the general concepts of the three wellbeing dimensions of sustainability, i.e., environmental, economic and social, and the infrastructure construction and maintenance practice. Furthermore, the system allows selecting different weighting for the indicators but offers also a default set of values derived from a survey conducted with over 50 stakeholders in Europe and beyond. Together with the development, structure and features of the SUP&R DSS, this paper present its applicability by means of a case study aiming at identifying the most sustainable asphalt mixture for wearing courses. Several promising options for flexible road pavements were selected, ranging from low to hot temperature asphalt. The results show that a foamed warm mix asphalt mixture with a reclaimed asphalt pavement content of 50% is the most sustainable among the competing alternatives. Furthermore, a sensitivity analysis conducted to investigate the influence of the indicators weights, the parameters of the MCDA method the and long-term performance of the alternative asphalt mixtures on the stability of the ranking showed that its first position in the ranking remained unaffected.
João Santos; Sara Bressi; Veronique Cerezo; Davide Lo Presti. SUP&R DSS: A sustainability-based decision support system for road pavements. Journal of Cleaner Production 2018, 206, 524 -540.
AMA StyleJoão Santos, Sara Bressi, Veronique Cerezo, Davide Lo Presti. SUP&R DSS: A sustainability-based decision support system for road pavements. Journal of Cleaner Production. 2018; 206 ():524-540.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJoão Santos; Sara Bressi; Veronique Cerezo; Davide Lo Presti. 2018. "SUP&R DSS: A sustainability-based decision support system for road pavements." Journal of Cleaner Production 206, no. : 524-540.
Bitumen stabilized ballast (BSB) is a novel and promising construction or maintenance strategy of traditional ballasted track-bed that consists in the use of bitumen emulsion (BE), which is poured or sprayed at ambient temperature onto the ballast. The bound aggregates show high resistance to degradation and allows increasing intervals between both minor and major maintenance activities. This paper presents the results of a life cycle assessment (LCA) undertaken to compare the potential environmental impacts associated with the use of bitumen stabilized ballast (bound with BE) with those associated to traditional ballast (unbound aggregates) layers. Afterwards, for a more comprehensive understanding of the advantages related to the use of BSB, the complete structure of the track-bed, which in addition to the ballast layer also includes other components, such as sleepers, fastening systems and rails, has been considered. Furthermore, multiple analyses were performed by considering different scenarios involving the comparison of different maintenance timing of BSB and traditional ballast depending on traffic level and/or standard deviation limit (SD) of track irregularities. When the analysis considers the life cycle of the complete structure of the track-bed one can conclude that, overall, the use of BSB contributes positively to the reduction of the environmental impacts, independently of the track quality level and the cumulated traffic values considered. Indeed, the higher durability of BSB allows reducing the frequency of replacement of the elements composing the track-bed leading to considerable improvements in the life cycle environmental performance of the entire infrastructure.
Sara Bressi; Giacomo D'Angelo; Joao Santos; Marinella Giunta. Environmental performance analysis of bitumen stabilized ballast for railway track-bed using life-cycle assessment. Construction and Building Materials 2018, 188, 1050 -1064.
AMA StyleSara Bressi, Giacomo D'Angelo, Joao Santos, Marinella Giunta. Environmental performance analysis of bitumen stabilized ballast for railway track-bed using life-cycle assessment. Construction and Building Materials. 2018; 188 ():1050-1064.
Chicago/Turabian StyleSara Bressi; Giacomo D'Angelo; Joao Santos; Marinella Giunta. 2018. "Environmental performance analysis of bitumen stabilized ballast for railway track-bed using life-cycle assessment." Construction and Building Materials 188, no. : 1050-1064.
The increasing fuel consumption demand, the accelerated pressure imposed by the depletion of scarce raw materials and the urgent environmental protection requirements are forcing the change of pavement industry and academia community’s research endeavours towards the development of low emissions road paving technologies able to significantly reduce mixing and compaction temperature as well as the consumption of virgin raw materials. One of the relatively recent technologies in the field of pavement materials that aims at addressing those concerns is the incorporation of reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) in the production of warm mix asphalt (WMA). It is within this context that this study presents a full process-based comparative life cycle assessment (LCA) looking at understanding the environmental impact of reducing mixing temperature, through the use of warm mix technologies, namely chemical additives-based and foamed-based, and different rate of recycling (0% and 50% RAP). Furthermore, the investigation explores the effect of combining these technologies in the construction, maintenance and rehabilitation (M&R) of wearing courses for flexible road pavements. The results of this study showed that, for the conditions considered and assumptions performed, a pavement construction and M&R scenario in which a foamed-based WMA mixture with a RAP content of 50% is employed in the wearing course throughout the pavement life cycle is the most environmentally friendly alternative among all the competing solutions.
Joao Santos; Sara Bressi; Véronique Cerezo; Davide Lo Presti; Michel Dauvergne. Life cycle assessment of low temperature asphalt mixtures for road pavement surfaces: A comparative analysis. Resources, Conservation and Recycling 2018, 138, 283 -297.
AMA StyleJoao Santos, Sara Bressi, Véronique Cerezo, Davide Lo Presti, Michel Dauvergne. Life cycle assessment of low temperature asphalt mixtures for road pavement surfaces: A comparative analysis. Resources, Conservation and Recycling. 2018; 138 ():283-297.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJoao Santos; Sara Bressi; Véronique Cerezo; Davide Lo Presti; Michel Dauvergne. 2018. "Life cycle assessment of low temperature asphalt mixtures for road pavement surfaces: A comparative analysis." Resources, Conservation and Recycling 138, no. : 283-297.
Addressing the multidimensional challenges involved in advancing the sustainability of pavement systems requires the development of optimisation-based decision support system (DSS) for pavement management with the capability to identify optimally sustainable pavement maintenance and rehabilitations (M&R) strategies. The main objective of this research work is to develop a multi-objective optimisation framework that hosts a comprehensive and integrated pavement life cycle costs–life cycle assessment model that covers the pavement’s whole life cycle, from the extraction and production of materials to construction and maintenance, transportation of materials, work-zone traffic management, usage and end-of-life. The capability of the proposed DSS is analysed in a case study aiming at investigating, from a full life cycle perspective, the extent to which a number of pavement engineering solutions are efficient in improving the environmental and economic aspects of pavement sustainability, when applied in the management of a road pavement section. Multiple bi-objective optimisation analyses considering accordingly agency costs, user costs and greenhouse gas emissions were conducted based on a multi-objective genetic algorithm. Pareto fronts were obtained for each analysis, originating a set of non-dominated maintenance and rehabilitation solutions. Posteriorly, a multi-criteria decision analysis method was used to find the best compromise solution for pavement management.
João Santos; Adelino Ferreira; Gerardo Flintsch; Veronique Cerezo. A multi-objective optimisation approach for sustainable pavement management. Structure and Infrastructure Engineering 2018, 14, 854 -868.
AMA StyleJoão Santos, Adelino Ferreira, Gerardo Flintsch, Veronique Cerezo. A multi-objective optimisation approach for sustainable pavement management. Structure and Infrastructure Engineering. 2018; 14 (7):854-868.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJoão Santos; Adelino Ferreira; Gerardo Flintsch; Veronique Cerezo. 2018. "A multi-objective optimisation approach for sustainable pavement management." Structure and Infrastructure Engineering 14, no. 7: 854-868.
This paper presents the results of a life cycle assessment undertaken to compare the potential environmental impacts associated with the use of asphalt surface mixtures produced with polymer modified bitumen with those of a conventional asphalt surface mixture. Seven types of hot mix asphalt mixtures to be used in the surface course are compared, among which one produced with virgin materials and conventional binder, which is used as a reference, and six alternative mixtures containing a bituminous binder modified with different percentages of waste nitrile rubber from shoe sole and Ethylene-Vinyl-Acetate polymer. The ILCD impact assessment method at midpoint level was adopted to assess the environmental performance of the wearing course of a French pavement structure over a 30-year project analysis period considering the following pavement life cycle phases: (1) extraction of raw materials, modification of the bituminous binder and mixtures production; (2) transportation of materials, and; (3) construction and maintenance and rehabilitation.
Joao Santos; Veronique Cerezo; Khedoudja Soudani; Sara Bressi. A Comparative Life Cycle Assessment of Hot Mixes Asphalt Containing Bituminous Binder Modified with Waste and Virgin Polymers. Procedia CIRP 2018, 69, 194 -199.
AMA StyleJoao Santos, Veronique Cerezo, Khedoudja Soudani, Sara Bressi. A Comparative Life Cycle Assessment of Hot Mixes Asphalt Containing Bituminous Binder Modified with Waste and Virgin Polymers. Procedia CIRP. 2018; 69 ():194-199.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJoao Santos; Veronique Cerezo; Khedoudja Soudani; Sara Bressi. 2018. "A Comparative Life Cycle Assessment of Hot Mixes Asphalt Containing Bituminous Binder Modified with Waste and Virgin Polymers." Procedia CIRP 69, no. : 194-199.
Current practice adopted by highway agencies with regards to pavement management, has mostly consisted of employing life cycle costs analysis (LCCA) systems to evaluate the overall long-term economic efficiency of competing pavement design and maintenance and rehabilitation (M&R) activities alternatives. This way of supporting the decision-making process as it relates to pavement management, in which little or no importance is given to environmental considerations, suggests the need for pavement management decision-support systems (DSS), which, by integrating multi-disciplinary and complementary pavement life cycle modelling approaches, enable the decision makers (DMs) to properly account for, consider and assess the lifetime impacts of their decisions and practices regarding sustainability goals and targets. This only can be achieved by employing techniques and tools provided with a comprehensive and wide-scoped cradle-to-grave capacity of analysis. To address this multifaceted problem, this paper presents a comprehensive and modular multi-objective optimization (MOO)-based pavement management DSS which comprises three main components: (1) a MOO module; (2) a comprehensive and integrated pavement life cycle costs - life cycle assessment (LCC-LCA) module that covers the whole life cycle of the pavement; and (3) a decision-support module. The potential of the proposed DSS is illustrated with one case study consisting of determining the optimal M&R strategy for a one-way flexible pavement section of a typical Interstate highway in Virginia, USA, which yields the best trade-off between the following three often conflicting objectives: (1) minimization of the present value (PV) of the total life cycle highway agency costs (LCHAC); (2) minimization of the PV of the life cycle road user costs (LCRUC); and (3) minimization of the life cycle greenhouse gas emissions (LCGHG). In comparison to the traditional maintenance strategy, the proposed DSS suggest a maintenance plan that reduces LCHAC by 15%, LCRUC by 28% and LCGHG by 26%
João Santos; Adelino Ferreira; Gerardo Flintsch. A multi-objective optimization-based pavement management decision-support system for enhancing pavement sustainability. Journal of Cleaner Production 2017, 164, 1380 -1393.
AMA StyleJoão Santos, Adelino Ferreira, Gerardo Flintsch. A multi-objective optimization-based pavement management decision-support system for enhancing pavement sustainability. Journal of Cleaner Production. 2017; 164 ():1380-1393.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJoão Santos; Adelino Ferreira; Gerardo Flintsch. 2017. "A multi-objective optimization-based pavement management decision-support system for enhancing pavement sustainability." Journal of Cleaner Production 164, no. : 1380-1393.
J Santos; S Thyagarajan; E Keijzer; R Flores; G Flintsch. Pavement life cycle assessment: A comparison of American and European tools. Pavement Life-Cycle Assessment 2017, 1 -10.
AMA StyleJ Santos, S Thyagarajan, E Keijzer, R Flores, G Flintsch. Pavement life cycle assessment: A comparison of American and European tools. Pavement Life-Cycle Assessment. 2017; ():1-10.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJ Santos; S Thyagarajan; E Keijzer; R Flores; G Flintsch. 2017. "Pavement life cycle assessment: A comparison of American and European tools." Pavement Life-Cycle Assessment , no. : 1-10.